Bioptic barcode reader and carrier assembly for a bioptic barcode reader

ABSTRACT

Bioptic barcode readers are disclosed herein. An example bioptic barcode reader includes an upper housing and a lower housing secured directly to the upper housing, the lower housing and the upper housing defining an interior region. The upper housing includes a horizontally extending portion, an integral and unitary tower portion extending above the horizontally extending portion, a generally horizontal window positioned in the horizontally extending portion, and a generally upright window positioned in the tower portion. An imaging sensor, at least one intermediate mirror, at least one vertical output mirror, and at least one horizontal output mirror are positioned within the interior region.

BACKGROUND

Bioptic barcode readers traditionally use housing assemblies that havethree or more housing portions and various covers, which creates a largenumber of electrostatic discharge, water, and dust paths that must becontrolled and requires a large number of seals, which makes sealing thehousing assembly and protecting internal components more difficult. Italso makes access to the optical and electronic components morecomplicated since the components are distributed through the housingsections with cabling passing between the components and through all thehousings portions.

In addition, with the optical and electronic components distributed andmounted to different housing sections the entire bioptic barcode readerhas to be assembled before it can be tested, which then requiresdisassembly if a problem is found during testing. It also makes itdifficult to service the optical and electronic components. For example,to disassemble or service a traditional barcode reader, variouselectronic components and printed circuit boards must be disconnected,which can risk broken connectors. Furthermore, in cases where theproblem with a bioptic barcode reader is not obvious, the entire biopticbarcode reader must typically be shipped out in order to service it.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader comprisingan upper housing and a lower housing secured directly to the upperhousing, the lower housing and the upper housing defining an interiorregion. The upper housing includes a horizontally extending portion, anintegral and unitary tower portion extending above the horizontallyextending portion, a generally horizontal window positioned in thehorizontally extending portion, and a generally upright windowpositioned in the tower portion. An imaging sensor, at least oneintermediate mirror, at least one vertical output mirror, and at leastone horizontal output mirror are positioned within the interior region.

In a variation of this embodiment, the imaging sensor, the intermediatemirror, and that at least one vertical output mirror are each mountedonto a carrier frame.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a carrier assembly for abioptic barcode reader, the carrier assembly comprising a carrier frame,an imaging sensor mounted on the carrier frame, an intermediate mirrormounted on the carrier frame, and at least one vertical output mirrormounted on the carrier frame.

In a variation of this embodiment, the carrier frame is a single,integral, unitary part and is configured to be inserted and removed froma housing assembly of the bioptic barcode reader as a single unit.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of assembling abioptic barcode reader, comprising the steps of: assembling a carrierassembly by mounting an imaging sensor, an intermediate mirror, and atleast one vertical output mirror onto a carrier frame; securing at leastone horizontal output mirror in a lower housing of the bioptic barcodereader; positioning the carrier assembly between the lower housing andan upper housing of the bioptic barcode reader; and securing the upperhousing directly to the lower housing such that the carrier assembly ispositioned within an interior region of the bioptic barcode readerdefined by the lower housing and the upper housing.

In a variation of this embodiment, the carrier frame is a single,integral, unitary part.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of repairing abioptic barcode reader, comprising the steps of: disconnecting an upperhousing of the bioptic barcode reader from a lower housing of thebioptic barcode reader; removing a first carrier assembly from the upperhousing and the lower housing, the first carrier assembly including afirst carrier frame and a first imaging sensor, a first intermediatemirror, at least one first vertical output mirror, each mounted on thecarrier frame; positioning a second carrier assembly between the upperhousing and the lower housing, the second carrier assembly including asecond carrier frame and a second imaging sensor, a second intermediatemirror, at least one second vertical output mirror, each mounted on thecarrier frame; and securing the upper housing to the lower housing.

In a variation of this embodiment, the upper housing is secured directlyto the lower housing.

In another variation of this embodiment, the first carrier frame is asingle, integral, unitary part and the second carrier frame is a single,integral, unitary part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example bioptic barcodereader;

FIG. 2A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the bioptic barcodereader of FIG. 1 , taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2B illustrates the cross-section view of FIG. 2A with an optionalarrangement of optical and electronic components;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example lower housing of thebioptic barcode reader of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the lower housing of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an example upper housing of thebioptic barcode reader of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the upper housing of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an example carrier assembly ofthe bioptic barcode reader of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of the carrier assembly of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of the carrier assembly of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the carrier assemblyof FIG. 7 taken along line 10-19 in FIG. 8 ; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an example carrier frame ofthe carrier assembly of FIG. 7 .

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The examples disclosed herein relate to bioptic barcode readers thathave only two parts to the housing assembly, an upper housing and alower housing secured directly to the upper housing, rather than thetraditional three-piece housing with an intermediate housing positionedbetween the upper and lower housings and do not have any removablecovers in the upper or lower housings. The use of only an upper andlower housing, without any intermediate housing between the upper andlower housing, and no removable covers in the upper or lower housingsimplifies sealing and reduces the number of seams and required seals,which can minimize electrostatic discharge and dust, and liquid fromentering the housing of the bioptic barcode reader.

The example bioptic barcode readers also include a carrier assemblypositioned between the upper and lower housing that includes a singlecarrier frame that carries all of the optical and electronic componentsof the bioptic barcode reader, except the horizontal output mirror,which makes assembly and repair of bioptic barcode reader and access tothe electronics simpler.

As discussed below, having all of the optical and electronic componentsof the bioptic barcode reader mounted to a single rigid carrier framehelps with a number of tolerance and pointing situations, such as:minimized tolerance between imaging and illumination for the vertical,horizontal, and color camera systems; more accurate location of the userinterface board against the upper housing to result in less variation ofcapacitive touch signal and more consistent illumination of lightpipeswithout extra support parts; reduced pointing of the left and rightoff-platter detection systems to reduce false alerts; easierinstallation, servicing, and debugging of the entire opto-electronicsystem. In addition, the carrier assembly with all of the optical andelectronic components can be tested prior to full assembly of biopticbarcode reader, where in the past the entire bioptic barcode readerwould have to be assembled before could be tested, which then requiresdisassembly if a problem is found during testing. Furthermore, it isalso easier to build and test the carrier assembly before it isinstalled in the housing assembly and easier to service the optical andelectronic components since printed circuit boards do not have to bedisconnected from other electronics, which reduces the risk of brokenconnectors.

The use of the disclosed carrier assembly effectively creates a singleserviceable assembly that can be sent out in a much smaller package inthe case that off-site servicing is necessary. There are also nointernal interconnects that need to be operated during service. Havingsuch a small assembly that is easily installed and removed from thehousing assembly means that a spare could be kept on site and be easilyswapped out in order to keep the bioptic barcode reader operational.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 , an example bioptic barcode reader 100 is shownthat includes a housing assembly 200 with an upper housing 205 and alower housing 250, which together define an interior region 265 ofbioptic barcode reader 100. Lower housing 250 is secured directly toupper housing 205, for example with threaded members, without anyintermediate housing portion positioned between upper housing 205 andlower housing 250. A seal 280 can be positioned between upper housing205 and lower housing 250, which can minimize electrostatic dischargeand dust, and liquid from entering interior region 265. In the exampleshown, neither upper housing 205 nor lower housing 250 have anyremovable covers, which further minimizes electrostatic discharge anddust, and liquid from entering interior region 265 through upper housing205 and lower housing 250.

As can be seen in FIG. 2A, bioptic barcode reader 100 can includevarious optical and electronic components, such as an imaging sensor315, at least one intermediate mirror 325, at least one vertical outputmirror 330, and at least one horizontal output mirror 255 positioned ininterior region 265. With this arrangement of components, intermediatemirror 325 is a splitter mirror and a field-of-view of imaging sensor315 is split by intermediate mirror 325 into a first portion and asecond portion, with the first portion being directed out of generallyhorizontal window 215 by horizontal output mirror 255 and the secondportion being directed out of generally upright window 225 by verticaloutput mirror 330. As shown in the example shown in FIG. 2A,intermediate mirror 325 is a concave splitter mirror that directs onepart of the second portion to a first vertical output mirror 330 and asecond part of the second portion to a second vertical output mirror330. Alternatively, intermediate mirror 325 could also be a convexsplitter mirror that directs the second portion to two vertical outputmirrors 330 or intermediate mirror 325 could be a planar splitter mirrorthat directs the entire second portion to a single vertical outputmirror 330. In addition, rather than having a single imaging sensor 315with a split field of view, bioptic barcode reader 100 can have a secondimaging sensor 335, where a first field-of-view 320 of imaging sensor315 is directed out of generally horizontal window 215 by horizontaloutput mirror 255 and a second field-of-view 340 of second imagingsensor 335 is directed out of generally upright window 225 by verticaloutput mirror 330.

Although not required, bioptic barcode reader 100 can also includeadditional optical and electronic components, such as a verticalillumination printed circuit board 345, a user interface printed circuitboard 350, a speaker 355, a color vision camera 360, a color visioncamera illumination printed circuit board 365, and an off-platterdetection system printed circuit board 370. In the example shown,horizontal output mirror 255 is mounted onto lower housing 250 andimaging sensor 315, intermediate mirror 325, vertical output mirrors330, vertical illumination printed circuit board 345, user interfaceprinted circuit board 350, speaker 355, color vision camera 360, colorvision camera illumination printed circuit board 365, off-platterdetection system printed circuit board 370, and second imaging sensor335 can be mounted onto a carrier frame 305 of carrier assembly 300, asdescribed in more detail below.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the example upper housing 205 ofbioptic barcode reader 100 includes a horizontally extending portion 210and an integral and unitary tower portion 220 extending abovehorizontally extending portion 210, that are a single, unitary,integrated part. A generally horizontal window 215 is positioned inhorizontally extending portion 210 and a generally upright window 225 ispositioned in tower portion 220. Having all of the windows of biopticbarcode reader 100, horizontal window 215 and upright window 225,attached to upper housing 205 (rather than the horizontal windowattached to an intermediate housing and the upright window attached toan upper housing), improves the serviceability of bioptic barcode reader100 since only upper housing 205 would have to be replaced if eitherwindow is scratched, cracked, or damaged.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10 , an example carrier assembly 300 for biopticbarcode reader 100 is shown, which can include many of the requiredoptical and electronic components of bioptic barcode reader 100 and isconfigured to be easily inserted into and removed from housing assembly200 of bioptic barcode reader 100 as a single unit for ease of assemblyand repair. In addition, since the electronic components that requireinterconnected are all included in carrier assembly 300, carrierassembly can be easily removed from housing assembly 200 without anyelectrical disconnections.

Carrier assembly 300 includes a carrier frame 305 (see FIG. 11 ), whichin the example shown is a single, integral, unitary part that can beconfigured to be received in a first set of channels 230 formed in upperhousing 205 and in a second set of channels 260 formed in lower housing250 to locate and orient carrier frame 305 within bioptic barcode reader100. Various optical and electronic components of bioptic barcode reader100 are mounted to carrier frame 305, such as imaging sensor 315,intermediate mirror 325, and at least one vertical output mirror 330.Imaging sensor 315 can be mounted directed to carrier frame 305 or amain printed circuit board 310 can be mounted to carrier frame 305 andimaging sensor 315 mounted on main printed circuit board 310. Althoughmain printed circuit board 310 is shown being mounted vertically withthe field-of-view of imaging sensor 315 straight at horizontal outputmirror 255 and split by intermediate mirror 325 to vertical outputmirror 330, main printed circuit board 310 could also be mountedhorizontally with the field-of-view of imaging sensor 315 straight atvertical output mirror 330 and split by intermediate mirror 325 tohorizontal output mirror 255. In addition, as described above,intermediate mirror 325 can be a splitter mirror that is planar,concave, or convex and if bioptic barcode reader 100 has multiplevertical output mirrors 330, each vertical output mirror 330 can bemounted on carrier frame 305. One advantage provide by a single,integral, unitary carrier frame 305 is that imaging sensor 315 andintermediate mirror 325 are attached to the same part, which minimizestolerances and shift between the imaging sensor 315 and intermediatemirror 325 to ensure that the split of the field-of-view of imagingsensor 315 is located in a consistent spot between different carrierassemblies 300 and bioptic barcode readers 100. This results in fewerpixels that might be lost in the field-of-view of imaging sensor 315. Inaddition, mounting vertical output mirror(s) 330 on carrier frame 305with imaging sensor 315 and intermediate mirror 325 creates an idealtolerance situation for the vertical system which minimizesfield-of-view pointing error. Furthermore, since horizontal outputmirror 255 is far along the path of the field-of-view of imaging sensor315, the pointing error for the horizontal system is also minimized. Allof this helps with tolerances to minimize pointing error and maximizeusable pixels of imaging sensor 315 in bioptic barcode reader 100.

Additional optical and electronic components can also be mounted ontocarrier frame 305, such as vertical illumination printed circuit board345, user interface printed circuit board 350, speaker 355, color visioncamera 360, color vision camera illumination printed circuit board 365,and/or off-platter detection system printed circuit board 370. Carrierframe 305 can also have additional features formed into carrier frame305, such as a horizontal illumination cavity 375 to confine thehorizontal illumination and direct is through bioptic barcode reader 100and/or a sound chamber 380 that assists in directing sound out ofbioptic barcode reader 100.

As mentioned above, the use of carrier assembly 300 to carry most of theoptical and electronic components of bioptic barcode reader 100 makesthe assembly of bioptic barcode reader faster and easier thantraditional bioptic barcode readers. For example, to assemble biopticbarcode reader 100, carrier assembly 300 is assembled by mountingimaging sensor 315, intermediate mirror 325, and vertical output mirror330 onto carrier frame 305. As described above, imaging sensor 315 canbe mounted directly to carrier frame 305 or imaging sensor 315 can bemounted to main printed circuit board 310 and main printed circuit board310 can be mounted to carrier frame 305. In addition, a planarintermediate mirror 325 and a single vertical output mirror 330 or aconcave or convex intermediate mirror 325 and two vertical outputmirrors 330 can be mounted to carrier frame 305. Depending on thedesired features of bioptic barcode reader 100, additional optical andelectronic components can also be mounted onto carrier frame 305, suchas vertical illumination printed circuit board 345, user interfaceprinted circuit board 350, speaker 355, color vision camera 360, colorvision camera illumination printed circuit board 365, and/or off-platterdetection system printed circuit board 370. Horizontal output mirror 255is also secured in lower housing 250 of bioptic barcode reader 100.

Once assembled, carrier assembly 300 is positioned between lower housing250 and upper housing 205 as a single unit, preferably by insertingcarrier assembly 300 into first set of channels 230 formed in upperhousing 205 and into second set of channels 260 formed in lower housing250, to locate and orient carrier assembly 300 within bioptic barcodereader 100. Upper housing 205 is then secured directly to lower housing250, for example, with threaded members, so that carrier assembly 300 ispositioned and secured within interior region 265. As described above,upper housing 205 is secured directly to lower housing 250 without anyintermediate housing between upper housing 205 and lower housing 250.However, before upper housing 205 is secured to lower housing 250, aseal 280 can be positioned between upper housing 205 and lower housing250 to electrostatic discharge and dust, and liquid from enteringinterior region 265.

Similarly, the repair of bioptic barcode reader 100 is also made fasterand easier with the use of carrier assembly 300. For example, to repairbioptic barcode reader 100 upper housing 205 can be disconnected fromlower housing 250, for example, by removing threaded members frombetween upper housing 205 and lower housing 250, and a first carrierassembly 300 can be removed from upper housing 205 and lower housing250. A second carrier assembly 300 can then be positioned between upperhousing 205 and lower housing 250, preferably by inserting secondcarrier assembly 300 into first set of channels 230 formed in upperhousing 206 and into second set of channels 260 formed in lower housing250 to locate and orient second carrier assembly 300 within biopticbarcode reader 100. Upper housing 205 can then be secured to lowerhousing 250, for example, by threaded members between upper housing 205and lower housing 250.

As discussed above, upper housing 205 is preferably secured directly tolower housing 250, without any intermediate housing between upperhousing 205 and lower housing 250, and seal 280 is positioned betweenupper housing 205 and lower housing 250. In addition, the first andsecond carrier assemblies 300 can each include a carrier frame 305 andvarious optical and electronic components, such as imaging sensor 315,intermediate mirror 325, and one or more vertical output mirrors 330. Asdescribed above, imaging sensors 315 can be mounted directly to firstand second carrier frames 305 or imaging sensors 315 can be mounted tomain printed circuit boards 310 and the main printed circuit boards 310mounted to the carrier frames 305 of first and second carrier assemblies300. Depending on the desired features and functionality of biopticbarcode reader 100, first and second carrier assemblies 300 can alsoinclude a vertical illumination printed circuit board 345, a userinterface printed circuit board 350, a speaker 355, a color visioncamera 360, a color vision camera illumination printed circuit board365, and/or an off-platter detection system printed circuit board 370mounted on the first and second carrier frames 305.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings. Additionally, thedescribed embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpretedas mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentiallycombinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In otherwords, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementionedembodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the otheraforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The claimed invention isdefined solely by the appended claims including any amendments madeduring the pendency of this application and all equivalents of thoseclaims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less thanall features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A bioptic barcode reader, comprising: an upper housing including ahorizontally extending portion, an integral and unitary tower portionextending above the horizontally extending portion, a generallyhorizontal window positioned in the horizontally extending portion, anda generally upright window positioned in the tower portion; a lowerhousing secured directly to the upper housing, the lower housing and theupper housing defining an interior region; and an imaging sensor, atleast one intermediate mirror, at least one vertical output mirror, andat least one horizontal output mirror positioned within the interiorregion.
 2. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 1, comprising a sealpositioned between the upper housing and the lower housing.
 3. Thebioptic barcode reader of claim 1, wherein the upper housing does notinclude any removable covers and the lower housing does not include anyremovable covers.
 4. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 1, wherein theimaging sensor, the intermediate mirror, and that at least one verticaloutput mirror are each mounted onto a carrier frame.
 5. The biopticbarcode reader of claim 4, comprising a second imaging sensor mounted onto the carrier frame, wherein a first field of view of the imagingsensor is directed out of the generally horizontal window and a secondfield of view of the second imaging sensor is directed out of thegenerally upright window.
 6. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 4,wherein the imaging sensor is mounted to a main printed circuit boardand the main printed circuit board is mounted onto the carrier frame. 7.The bioptic barcode reader of claim 4, wherein the carrier frame isreceived in channels formed in the upper housing and the lower housingto locate and orient the carrier frame in the interior region.
 8. Thebioptic barcode reader of claim 4, comprising one or more of a verticalillumination printed circuit board, a user interface printed circuitboard, a speaker, a color vision camera, a color vision cameraillumination printed circuit board, and an off-platter detection systemprinted circuit board mounted onto the carrier frame.
 9. The biopticbarcode reader of claim 4, wherein the horizontal output mirror ismounted onto the lower housing.
 10. The bioptic barcode reader of claim1, wherein the intermediate mirror is a splitter mirror.
 11. The biopticbarcode reader of claim 10, wherein the splitter mirror is a concavesplitter mirror and the bioptic barcode reader includes two verticaloutput mirrors.
 12. A carrier assembly for a bioptic barcode reader, thecarrier assembly comprising: a carrier frame; an imaging sensor mountedon the carrier frame; an intermediate mirror mounted on the carrierframe; and at least one vertical output mirror mounted on the carrierframe.
 13. The carrier assembly of claim 12, comprising a main printedcircuit board mounted on the carrier frame.
 14. The carrier assembly ofclaim 13, wherein the imaging sensor is mounted on the main printedcircuit board.
 15. The carrier assembly of claim 12, wherein the carrierframe is a single, integral, unitary part.
 16. The carrier assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the intermediate mirror is a splitter mirror.
 17. Thecarrier assembly of claim 16, wherein the splitter mirror is a concavesplitter mirror and two vertical output mirrors are mounted on thecarrier frame.
 18. The carrier assembly of claim 12, wherein the carrierassembly is configured to be inserted and removed from a housingassembly of the bioptic barcode reader as a single unit.
 19. The carrierassembly of claim 18, wherein the carrier frame is configured to bereceived in channels formed in an upper housing and a lower housing ofthe housing to locate and orient the carrier frame within the biopticbarcode reader.
 20. The carrier assembly of claim 18, wherein noelectrical disconnections are required to remove the carrier assemblyfrom the housing.
 21. The carrier assembly of claim 12, comprising oneor more of a vertical illumination printed circuit board, a userinterface printed circuit board, a speaker, a color vision camera, acolor vision camera illumination printed circuit board, and anoff-platter detection system printed circuit board mounted onto thecarrier frame.
 22. The carrier assembly of claim 21, wherein the carrierframe comprises one or more of a horizontal illumination cavity and asound chamber. 23-49. (canceled)